The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-10-27
A WHITE LIE.
The Simple Story Of the Life Of Fisher
man and His Daughter.
EUGENE FIELD.
Copyrighted. 1851

i a|
EUGENE FIELD.
tcopwtoated. 1851
IL.
Il was upon the LIST day of June 1856, that
Caleb Dickinson hobbled up through the
hot sand to the Atwood cottage. Caleb
3ooked very old, very weatherbeaten, very
lonely.
Aunt Hepsy met him ut the door. Her
ihce seemed to have lost many of its hard
lines in these later years.
"Well ?" she said.
sis Esther here?'' Caleb asked, with
fnrtive glance around.
''She's gone walkin' with Albert and the
child on the beach," said Aunt Hepsy.
They've been here goin' on fortnight, and
seems like Esther never'll get tired O
walkin' up an down the beach-it kind O
minds her of old times. she says, an Albert
loves to humor her, you know"
'Tm glad she amt here" said Caleb. He
Hmped into the sitting-room, pulled off his
hat and eased himself down in q chair.
Then he said: "rve got somethin' to tel
you"
II hope you don't bring no bad news,
Caleb" said Aunt Hepsy. "Twas jist about
Eve year ago this time you came to tell me
that Reuben had gone"
81 recollect it WE'LL" answered Caleb, IAN
msbbe the news I'm bringin' now will wipe
out all the sorror l fetched with me then.
Miss Hepsival, I've come to tell you that I've
heerd from Reuben!'
Aunt Hepsy rose stiff and straight from
her chair, and, coming over beside Caleb, she
clutched him by the arm.
"You've heard from Reuben 2' she gasped.
''Why, Caleb. isn't Reuben dead?'
mo, he ain't," said Caleb; 'leastwise this
letter says not"
He produced the letter. It was written in
. fine round hand. In spite of her trembling
and tears, Aunt Hepsy read it readily
enough, This was what was in the letter:
Dsor Sis.--There has been Ill at the Seaman's
Hospital in this place for the last year an old
man named Reuben Atwood. He tells me that
b has daughter and q sister living upon Cos
port beach. Judge from the little he has
chosen to say Of his past life that some sorrow
of . peculiar nature (perhaps a crime) keeps
him from returning to his family. He talks
constantly Of his child, but will not consent to
Informing her Of his whereabouts. Yet, 1t
oslng evident that he IL about to die, feel It
70 b my duty to inform you (of whom have
hard him speak, what his condition is and to
ask you to % inform his family, providing
tAege ID no reason why they should not now be
with him with their ministrations. Respect
: 4nlly yours. A1N1R DEANsTER, Clergyman.
This letter was dated at Bristol, Me. There
was but one thing to do-start for Bristol,
Ne, ct once. And go they did-Aunt
Hcpsy, Albert and his wife and child and
Caleb Dickinson.
ava hs,,n h. a. -, -x..,- ~
said Caleb. HE shall try my new net with
me-"
The hospital faced the sea, within stones
throw Of the waves that swept boldly up
and then skunk back again.
\ "He ID very low," said Mr.. Deansta. II
feared he would pass away beforeyou came"
Old Reuben's cot was by q window. He
lay with his face turned toward the sea. His
hair was very white and his face was thin
and pinched and wrinkled
Father, father ~ cried Esther. Shesprang
to his side, dropped upon her knees. hugged
his dear old hand and covered it with kisses.
Reuben could scarcely comprehend it; his
I eyes looked as if he were in dream.
He spoke slowly. "Is it Esther or il
1thsrs mother come to lead me home 2" he
sGksd.
1T Il Esther-your Estherp she cried.
4 Then abe raised herself up and kissed his
dsar lips.
''How'd you come here, childP Didn't
you think I was dead" he asked in strange
tone. II thought it was the sperrit of your
mother you are 30 like her, my gal."
His voice and his manner and his words
were 10 unlike the father she remembered
that Esther started up in alarm.
He is dying" she sobbed; she does not
know mep'
"Not know you, child2" said Reuben, ten
4 dsriy. "Of course do; only it's all 20 sud-
dan like that somehow can't realize it; it
sosms 20 like was dreamin'"
But Aunt Hepsy's voice-ahl it was full
1t tenderness now-assured him that it was
indeed his little girl, and that she had come
the old home on the beach; and Aunt
8epsy's big homely hand stroked old Reu-
bsn's brow very gently, and the wrinkles
seemed to vanish beneath her loving
touch. Al for Caleb, he sat at the foot
the bed and cried softly to himself.
xp. Jon shall 90 back with u.s." said
4 A3beEA taking old Reuben's hand, land
s1hesss nothing you sha'n't have to make
yoa happy. am Albert your son, and see,
u hss y our little one Esther's and mine; his
lnanns d Reuben, too"
Ihs old man stroked the child's pretty
1eb and bade him not be afraid: but all the
.e Reuben's eyes were fixed ON Esther,
4 ~ they were hungry like.
aap't wurth al this fuss" hssaid. "rm
oAins but poor old hulk. It's all my own
1nsa but couldn't help til thought /
oe enfn' my duty. and done 1t, though it
qke ~ heart"
- " bads al but Esthm go away, and
= ~ IL Two were Alone, Reuben said,
uethin' tails me, my little gal, that this
~ II = Day out O. port. / want you to slt
~ " ~ sids and lt me stroke your hair,
~ ~ 10 and talk to you Just y did
~ ~ was . little child. An, seams to
- - my little child yet, although
oGu your heart d gi'n TO another
~ ny little child. for you're the only
~ had sincs your mothR disd-ths
cs. You don't rsmsmhss, for you
~ thing when she died, but you're
~ ehild -you'vs ct hs pretty facs
p suzis ~ hsr gentle hsast- God
Io1es1 ~ peaaisd ~ hand.
H. - ~ ~ y 49, ~ y